Perkins County South Dakota

County Name: Perkins

Largest City: Lemmon

County Seat: Bison

Population: 3,023

Founded: 1909

2,872 sq. miles

At a vast 2,872 square miles of creeks, rivers, and prairies, Perkins County was officially organized in 1909. The county is named for Henry E. Perkins, a native of the state of Vermont, who served as a lawyer and State Senator from Sturgis from 1903-1911. Mr. Perkins helped secure passage of the act that created the county. The first meeting of the Perkins County Commissioners was held in Lemmon, where citizens of Bison and Lemmon discussed which community would serve as the County Seat. After many hearings,
Bison finally won the battle by a mere 14 votes.

Bison is not only the county seat of Perkins County, but it also serves as the location for the Perkins County Fair and Rodeo, which is held at the end of each summer as a celebration for friends and families. Another rodeo, the annual Lemmon Boss Cowman Rodeo, is held during the summer in Lemmon, featuring rodeo events, dances, art exhibits, and parades. Another annual event occurs in Lemmon, the Fall Fest, where families can welcome the change of seasons with a parade, kiss-a-pig contest, scarecrow walks, and even a fireman's tractor pull.

The Grand River Museum can also be found in Lemmon, providing regional emphasis on culture and heritage to inform guests about the region. The Petrified Wood Park is the county's most unique attraction. This park is the largest of its kind anywhere in the entire world and features more than100 structures of ancient man-made towers and distinctive plant specimens from historic ages.

Perkins County is home to the picturesque Shadehill Reservoir, which provides opportunities for recreation and many outdoors activities, including camping and hiking. Shadehill Reservoir also houses a monument dedicated to Hugh Glass, a hard working fur trapper who traveled through what is now Perkins County in August of 1823.
Outdoorsmen appreciate Perkins County as a major hunting ground for antelope and turkey. Hunters can also find pheasants, Canadian geese, and deer. Perkins County is often considered a ���sportsman's paradise' for the wide variety of game available.

Tim's Work in Perkins County

Tim Fights for Clean Water
Tim wrote the original bill authorizing the project when he was serving in the House of Representatives and he continued pressing for passage until the project authorization was signed into law by President Clinton three years later. Tim followed up by securing $8.859 million in federal earmarks for the project through Fiscal Year 2008; the Senate version of the Fiscal Year 2009 spending bill, if enacted, would provide an additional $3 million.

Tim Announced Funding for Lemmon Airport
In 2009, Tim announced that Lemmon Municipal Airport would receive a $57,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. The Airport Improvement Grant funds construction of a terminal building.

Tim Secures Funding for Dental Care
In 2008, Tim worked to secure $200,000 in funding for Delta Dental of South Dakota (DDSD), which operates the Care Mobile Dental Services. This service has provided $2 million in free dental care to more than 4,000 South Dakota children since the program was initiated in 2004. The demand has grown and exceeds Care Mobile's ability to provide services. This funding will help DDSD add a second unit to expand services to Community Health Centers and reservations throughout our state, including in Perkins County.

Tim Works for Healthy Youth Initiative
In 2008, Tim secured $175,000 in funding for the South Dakota Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth Initiative, which will help boost student achievement by reducing risky behavior and helping young people thrive.

Tim Secures Funding for Public Transit
In 2007, Tim worked to secure funding through the Federal Transit administration, which allowed for transit to be more available in smaller communities. He secured a total of $7.875 million for transit across South Dakota.

Tim Announced Funding to Purchase an Ambulance
In August 2007, Tim announced that the Lemmon EMT Association would receive a $15,757 grant and a $94,425 low-interest loan to purchase an ambulance. This funding came from USDA Rural Development.

Tim Announced funding for Developing Businesses
In 2004, Tim announced that Lemmon Area Charitable and Economic Development Corporation (LACED) would receive a $90,000 grant to develop a regional service that assists area businesses in starting and expanding operations. This funding came from USDA Rural Development.

Tim Announced Funding for School Program
In 2003, Tim announced that Bison School District would receive $5,467 in Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) funding. REAP is flexible money that schools can apply where their needs are greatest; it recognizes that the needs of rural schools have different needs than their rural counterparts. The funding came from the U.S. Department of Education under authority of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Tim Announced Funding for Power
In 2002, Tim announced that Grand Electric Cooperative in Bison would receive a $2.3 million loan to enhance its utilities service. That money allowed service to 55 new customers, construction of distribution lines, and other system improvements.